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Course Description: The course covers what a database system is, how to design databases effectively and in a principled manner, how to query databases, and how to develop applications using databases: entity-relationship modeling, logical design of relational databases, relational algebra, SQL, database application development, database security, and an overview of query optimization and transaction processing. The course offers both programming and non-programming paths for homework and projects, to accommodate students with different programming skills and backgrounds.

Prerequisites:

• COMS W3134, W3136, or W3137 (equivalent courses taken elsewhere are acceptable as well)

You need to get permission from the instructor if you do not have these prerequisites. This course is intended for both Computer Science majors as well as nonmajors.

Topics: The fundamentals of database design and application development using databases: entity-relationship modeling, logical design of relational databases, relational data definition and manipulation languages, SQL; object-relational databases; query processing; physical database tuning; transaction processing.

Textbook (optional): Avi Silberschatz, Henry F. Korth, S. Sudarshan: Database System Concepts, Seventh Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2019. ISBN: 9780078022159

Lectures: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:10-11:25 a.m. ET, at 207 Mathematics Building

Grades:

• 50% projects (2): Project 1 is worth 40% of the course grade, while Project 2 is worth 10% of the course grade. For the projects, you can choose between a programming option (to be done in Python) and a nonprogramming option.
• 20% midterm: Thu Oct 24, during lecture time (closed book, closed notes)
• 30% final: Thu Dec 19, 9:00-11:00 a.m. ET (cumulative; closed book, closed notes)

Instructor: Prof. Luis Gravano (pronouns: he, him, his)

• Office Hours:
  • Mondays, 9:30-10:30 a.m. ET: in person at 706 Schapiro CEPSR
  • Wednesdays, 9:30-10:30 a.m. ET: in person at 706 Schapiro CEPSR
  • By appointment by email
• Email: gravano@cs.columbia.edu

Instructional Assistants:

• Madhulika Balakumar, mb5144@columbia.edu
• Harshith Belagur, hb2779@columbia.edu
• Quan Fang, qf2172@columbia.edu
• Lucy King, lk2936@columbia.edu
• Gargi Patil, gp2723@columbia.edu
• Prabhpreet Sodhi, pss2161@columbia.edu
• Gabriel Trigo, ggt2112@columbia.edu

The full office hours schedule, including links for online office hours and locations for in-person office hours, is available in a Google Calendar. You can find the link to the Google Calendar in an Announcement on CourseWorks.